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United Way of Frederick County
Working together matters
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Pictured at the Born Learning launch are, from left, Tom Kleinhanzl, FMH president & CEO; Katherine Murray, director of women’s and children’s services, FMH; Pamm Dalton, UWFC director of Marketing & Communications and Rick Weldon, UWFC president & CEO.
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United Way of Frederick County Launches Early Learning Partnership with Frederick Memorial Healthcare System
April 28th, 2008
FREDERICK, MARYLAND—United Way of Frederick County (UWFC) announced its partnership with Frederick Memorial Healthcare System’s BirthPlace to distribute Born Learning educational packs to mothers giving birth at the center beginning May 1, 2008. The initial phase of the partnership provides for a six-month period, which will reach approximately 1,000 mothers of newborns delivering at the FMH BirthPlace.
A national United Way public engagement campaign, Born Learning focuses on creating
early learning opportunities for young children from birth to 5 years old. Public service advertising, a website and educational material give parents, grandparents and caregivers easy action steps to help young children learn. The information encourages making every day moments learning moments.
“We all know what happens in a child’s early years makes a difference—for school readiness and for success in life. Yet many parents don’t fully appreciate their role in preparing young children for school. Parents either aren’t sure how to encourage early learning or they feel they don’t have the time to do what it takes to help their child realize that success,” said Pamela Dalton, director of marketing & communications for UWFC.
By focusing on the routine, Born Learning offers practical advice, much of it backed by scientific research, for interacting with young children in a way that will promote good health and intellectual and emotional growth, according to Ms. Dalton.
“The goal of Born Learning is to inspire everyone who impacts young children to make the best possible decisions to boost school readiness. The program aims to give each of them the tools to make long-lasting community change,” she said.
The Born Learning program offers parents and caregivers a wealth of information available in English and Spanish, including meal ideas for young children, popular games and songs, tips on sleeping practices, guidance on choosing quality toys, information on discipline and health, and tips to help parents understand what to expect during each developmental stage. All of this information is available to the general public by visiting www.bornlearning.org.
Through its partnership with the BirthPlace, UWFC is providing 1,000 brightly colored mesh backpacks containing a variety of Born Learning pieces for new parents as part of the patient discharge plan.
“This partnership between Frederick Memorial Healthcare System and United Way of Frederick County will help the thousands of new parents we see every year care for and teach their children to love learning. Education truly starts at birth, and we're excited to offer our BirthPlace moms and dads these Born Learning materials to help their young children learn," remarked FMH president and CEO Tom Kleinhanzl.
UWFC president and CEO Rick Weldon echoes Mr. Kleinhanzl’s sentiments, saying “The Born Learning campaign creates new awareness, fosters new knowledge and brings about behavior changes to support children’s early learning. In the long run, it aims to fuel a new energy in communities to support early learning and, ultimately, the success of the program will be measured in terms of the nation’s youngsters. Launching this community outreach effort in conjunction with Frederick Memorial Healthcare System signifies a tangible outreach effort and provides an opportunity for local measurable results. We’ve included a postage-paid reply card in the packets with the hope that recipients will provide valuable feedback to guide the direction for our next steps in expanding this program in Frederick County.”
“The partnership with the BirthPlace allows United Way to provide concrete, practical and user-friendly ideas for parents to use every day. As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher and you need to take that role seriously,” remarked Mr. Weldon. “Many communities like ours are concerned about children coming to school unprepared, and are coming together to give parents more choices and children more opportunities.”
A local, volunteer-managed organization, United Way of Frederick County invests in community impact by supporting programs that assist children and families, provide emergency services, offer health education and serve those with disabilities through its 23 partner agencies. For additional information, call UWFC at 301-663-4231.
The BirthPlace at FMH was created to enhance the experience by caring for mothers and their newborns in a warm, inviting atmosphere. As the only hospital in one of the largest cities in Maryland, the BirthPlace at Frederick Memorial Hospital welcomes into the world more than 2,600 babies every year.
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